Caught: Tackling Shropshire's fishing licence dodgers
It may not seem like the most serious of crimes in Shropshire, but a major crackdown has been launched tackling problem fishing.
It's a growing concern at the region's lakes and rivers and those found guilty could face hefty fines.
This week, the Shropshire Star accompanied the Environment Agency, West Mercia Police, the Angling Trust and Telford Angling Association on Operation Leviathan, where pools in and around the Telford area were checked in a bid to clamp down on poaching, fish theft and all angling related crime.
Five men were found angling without a licence and could now be fined.
You need a fishing rod licence to fish for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt and eel with a rod and line in England (except the River Tweed), Wales and the Border Esk region of Scotland.
You must always carry your rod licence when youre fishing or you could be prosecuted.
You can be fined up to £2,500 for fishing without a rod licence.
Children under 12 dont need a licence. However, if you take a child under 12 fishing and hold the rod or help hold it you must buy a licence for yourself.
An annual rod licence costs £27 or £72 if you fancy fishing for salmon and sea trout too.
All annual fishing licences expire on March 31 each year.
Kevin Pearson, regional enforcement manager in the Midlands for the Angling Trust, said: "This joint operation really is about raising everyone's awareness of the problems anglers face.
"For example, if fish are stolen from the lakes it's theft but if fish are stolen from a river it's not a straight theft but it is fishing without permission.
"If it's a private fishery it's stealing.
"What we want to do is protect the environment so our fish stocks don't get decimated."
Mr Pearson added: "What we've noticed is European anglers have tended to catch but not release, so we've been trying to get the message out there over the last 12 months and it is working.
"They are starting to proudly adopt, catch and release, which is great. This is about building bridges.
"One thing we do notice is that rod licence evasion is actually lower amongst European anglers than the British, so that is something we're wanting to also address."
Ian Clark, secretary for Telford Angling Association, said the operation also provided an opportunity for the agencies to get out and about and speak to anglers, as well as getting the message out there that they need to have a licence.
He said: "On the whole we don't have massive problems, it is just a minority, but we need to address that, and we need to be tackling anglers' fears, that's extremely important.
"Of course cracking down on the people who catch the fish, then take them and eat them, that's important but then there are the other problems we need to get the message across on, such as ensuring people have a rod licence and the correct permit to fish the pool they're on, depending on who owns it.
"Then there's tackling the problems such as people leaving litter and rubbish on the bank, we also need to ensure pools are clean and tidy, and that anglers have the correct equipment with them, size of hooks is important but also abiding by club rules on equipment such as don't bring tins out with you because those tins could cut an animal such as a dog out walking.
"It's all just common sense, and about protecting the environment and the wildlife in that environment.
"It's nice to be able to get out, that's the enjoyable part, so everyone needs to do their bit in keeping pools as tidy as possible."
During the patrol, Alex McWhirter, fisheries enforcement officer for the Environment Agency, completed five offence reports – all of which were for anglers having no rod licence with them.
He warned if it was found that they had no licence at all, they could face a maximum fine of £2,500.
Mr WcWhirter said: "When I asked them for their licences they could not produce them, and the checks I carried out at the pool, did not show them as having a licence on our system."
The Environment Agency carries out its checks through finding out anglers' name and address, which they can check on its database.
"In these cases, all of those who we have stopped are adamant they hold a licence, so I have given them an offence report form which allows us to do further checks on the individuals and then our legal department will make a decision on whether to take legal action. That could be a just a warning letter or depending on other offences, they could face a fine of up to £2,500," said Mr McWhirter.
As the operation got under way, David Swift, a member of the Environment Agency's fisheries enforcement team, was informed that a large carp – weighing in at 18lbs – was taken from Blue Pool last Sunday, killed and filleted on the bank side.
He said: "This was upsetting to discover – but if we can catch and identify the offender, then positive outcomes may yet be the result."
Ralph Machin, a community support officer for West Mercia Police, said: "This operation should provide the public with reassurance that the police and the Environment Agency are supporting anglers in the protection of fish, fisheries and the environment.
"We're happy to work alongside other organisations to support local fishermen and their interests, to ensure people are holding valid rod licences.
"Hopefully this will also educate the general public, if any member of the public sees something they're unsure of while out and about they should call us on 101."
Following the patrol, a debrief with all the organisations took place at Malinsgate Police Station, where Mr Swift from the Environment Agency added: "It was an outstanding and productive partnership patrol."
